U.S. military deserter seeks refuge in Ottawa

A U.S. soldier injured in a roadside bombing in Iraq has fled to Ottawa and is seeking refugee status.

James Burmeister, 22, deserted the army while recovering from his injuries in Germany and flew to Canada with his wife and two-year-old son.

Now he isplaying bass with other musicians in Ottawawhile waiting for his refugee claim to be processed.

Burmeister, who is from Eugene, Ore., said he joined the army in 2005 after being told that as a soldier he would be doing humanitarian work to help Iraqis rebuild their country.

Instead, he said he became part of a team that set up traps for Iraqis using an object such as a fake camera as a lure.

"If the Iraqis would go and touch it they [the soldiers] could shoot 'em because if anyone messes with the U.S. government property, they're allowed to fire at 'em," he said.

He was caught in three bombing attacks while on duty, and during the third received shrapnel in the face. He fled after he was sent back to Germany, where he had first received his military training, to recover from damaged hearing and chronic headaches.

Burmeister admits he was naïve when he joined the army, and said he is aware that many people would criticize him for deserting.

"I did sign a contract to serve but you kinda have to be in the situation to know what it's like," he said. "I went there to do a good thing and not to fight a illegal war, and I feel like it's my right to say no to an illegal war."

The United Nations has called the Iraq war illegal because the U.S. did not seek the approval of the United Nations Security Council.

A Canadian group called the War Resister Support Campaign has been helping Burmeister since his arrival in the country this spring.

Spokesman Joel Harden said Burmeister is doing what's right.

"Sometimes in order to be a patriot you have to defy your government,and that's what James has decided to do and I totally support that," he said.

Burmeister said he chose to move to Ottawa because there are already lots of other former U.S. soldiers seeking refuge in Toronto and it's becoming hard to find places for them to stay.

"It's better for us to start spreading out," he said.